davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-16


These figures are, no doubt, below
The average of good crops. 1t has been
found that the living roots and stubble
Of a four-year-old sod have been equal
in weight to one-sixth more than last
years total crop. Also that an old
meadow or pasture has been found to
contribute to the soil four times the
amount of the last years surface herb
age. We have found by natural test
that an old quack grass sod has
amounted to four pounds of organic
matter, carefully freed from mineral
oOil, per square foot, thus contributing
as much rs eighty tons per acre of fer
tilizing matter quite equal in value to
ordinary barn-yard manure. A square
foot of sod from an old meadow in
Eastern Pennsylvania has been found
TO weigh nearly rs much, making a
little over seventy-five tons per acre.
In both these cases the sod was cut one
foot thick, and was in great part made
up of mass of fibrous decayed vege-
table matter much like peat. The lower
soil contained still large portion of
similar matter. as it was dark brown
and easily pulverulent for three or four
inches deeper. A block of soil from 2
rich cave in forest in North Caroliua
has been found equally rich in organic
matter for three feet in depth, while the
rich prairies of Iowa and Eastern Kan
sas have gathered from the centuries of
contributions from the grass, mass of
organic matter which makes up the
larger part of the soil for six feet in
depth in many places. There is no
more satisfactory proof of the wealth of
fertility contributed to the soil by long
continued growth of grass than in these
rich prairies, where the fertility has
been accumulated really from atmos-
pheric sources for ages.
We say from atmospheric sources"
advisedly, and for the purpose of stat
ing what is and must be an incOntro-
vertibie fact, from the very nature of it,
viz: that the soil can not gain any
steady accretion of nitrogen from any
source but the atmosphere, because this
is the only existing source of this ele-
ment. Grass and clover undoubtedly
accumulate nitrogen in the soil; but if
after the crop has been grown we find
more nitrogen in the soil than was there
previously, the accretion must have
been drawn from the atmosphere. And
1t is clear that the soil is enriched in all
kinds of plant food by the continuous
growth of grass and the mature growth
of a crop of clover.
While it is always satisfactory to
know as much as possible of the causes
of occurrences which are of interest to
us. we may certainly be satisfied with
the facts as they are, and turn them to
our valuable uses. Then. Knowing the
valde of a grass sod as manure, we
should encourage its growth in every
way possible. We have been asked if
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-10
THE BATTLEFIELD OF GETTYSBURG

charge OF Pickett called the high water mark Eof
the Rebellion. When Pickett was repulsed the
battle was practically over, although charge
from the Union left was ordered and drove the
rebels from the ridges they had won from sickles
on the Second Day.
The positions which the Maine troops occupied
during these interesting and critical movement
are represented on the map. The First Maine
Cavalry were not on the same field, but were with
Gregg's force, which on the Third Day, had Sc
we're engagement with Rebel Cavalry three miles
east Of Gettysburg.
The Commission while on the field settled some
disputed points about positions but geenrally the
monuments are placed where the position Of the
regiments are indicated. OF the Second Battery,
however, the correct position for the monument
was found to beacross the Chambersburg road and
nearly opposite the position Of the battery as
given on the map. The monument of the Nine
teenth Infantry will be somewhat to the right and
rear Of the position which the. map assigns the
Regiment I'm the Third Days fight. The monu-
ment for BOWS Battery, instead of being in the
rear Of the Nineteenth Infantrys position, will be
further to the left directly in front Of the position
occupied by the Seventeenth Infantry on the
third Day. The Twentieth Infantry has already
erected a monument on Its position on Little
Round Top it is probable that the State win mark
| its position on Round Top.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-10

Alabama, commanded by Lieut.. Col. Bulger
struck our regiment squarely In front and
opened murderous fire on our unprotected
line, as We had just got into position, and
had no time to throw up breastworks. At
the same time the 18th Alabama, commanded
by Col. William G. Oates, numbering GA
men and AZ officers, moved around to attack
us in flank and rear. Col. Chamberlain met
this movement by putting the right wing of
the regiment into single rank to resist the
47th and bent back the five left companies OF
the regiment at right angles with the right
wing, the colors at the angle.
Our regiment numbered 1853 men, but as
Company b, numbering so men, had been
sent out to protect our flank" we had soS
men In line to resist the furious assault OF
these two strong regiments, outnumoering
us more than three to one. The conflict was
fierce. but necessarily brief-as it was ques-
ton Of only a short time when every man
must fall before the superior fire of our
enemy, so greatly outnumbering US. When
1876 Of our brave officers and men had been
shot down where they stood, and only III
remained-hardly more than strong Skin
mish line--and the go rounds of cartridges
each man carried into the fight had been
fired, and the survivors were using from the
cartridge boxes of their fallen comrades, the
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-10
DEVILS DEN.

EXPERIENCES OF THE FOURTH INFANTRY
IN THAT TERRIBLE PLACE.
In a letter to the Battlefield Monument Asso-
citation Col Walker Of the Fourth Maine In
fantry, gives the following account Of the
movements OF his regiment and the part ID
took in the battle:
'My command, the Fourth Maine Infantry,
left Emmsttsburg July LIST, 1868, at 2 30 O'Clock
in the afternoon, and arrived at Gettysburg
at about o'clock the same evening. Ats.30
l received orders to establish a picket line
connecting my right with the pickets Of the
first army corps. The order was delivered
by Adjutant General CoDey in person.
said to him that my time had arrived and he
replied that it was Gen. Sickless request that
/ should be detailed. accepted the COM
canoe Of the phrase l used my time has ar
rived" The latter part Of September. 1852,
l had the honor Of being in command at
Point Of Rocks with my regiment for about
eighteen days. A few days prior to our ar
rival at Gettysburg the Third Corps was al
the Point Of Rocks, and made the request
to be detailed with my command as guard.
My friend Adjutant General Coney, did
what he could to have my request compiled
with, but without success, As 1t was not my
turn. said to him then that 1t would be
my turn when we arrived in front Of the en-
envy. My reply to Gen. Siekles's order my
turn has arrived" was a reminder to this
prediction.
"After receiving my orders, established
line some thirty to forty rods west Of the
Emmettsburg road. During the night the
enemy was massing troops In front Of as,
| but all was quiet until daylight. when the
| enemy's pickets opened Ere upon us, and
| several times advanced into the opening.
| They were driven back. however. and were
| glad to take cover in the woods. / knew the
| enemy were In force in our front. and had
fears Of an attack, and so said to the staff Of
fcers Of the corps and division. In view Of
| the danger, asked that support be stationed
near at hand, In case the anticipated attack
should come. Ny request, however, was dis
regarded, my superiors believing that there
was no considerable force In the woods, and
that the main force had fallen back. About
$50 a. m, Col. Berdan came to me, saying
| that he had been ordered by Gen. Birney to
| Join me and drive the enemy's pickets out OF
the words. told him that the division could
not do it and had better not make the at.
tempt 1 succeeded in convincing him that
1t would be foolhardy to make the attempt
andihe so reported 10 Gen. Blrney. An
hour later the Third Maine and a company
OF sharpshooters were sent into the woods
on the enemy's flank to ascertain how large
force was in our front and their report
more than verified my representations "a
Col. Berdan. From $50 until 30 there was
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-10

Emmettsburg road. The important points
then, along this side of Sickles's angle we're
the Peach Orchard, the woody knoll kaDout
the same elevation as the Peach Orchardl the
Wheat Field and the DEVILS Den, next 10
Little Round Top.
About o'clock in the afternoon the Sew
cnteenth were ordered forward from their
hating place in front of the little grove, and
with De Trobriand went to the woody knoll
between the Peach Orchard and Wheat Field,
and were formed In lines Of battle. Long
streets men had not crossed the Emmetts-
burg road, and the Seventeenth with De
Trobriand waited an hour 1t was the calm
before the storm. The Peach Orchard was
occupied; the Third Maine and Berdan's
Sharpshooters extended from 1t to the left
along the Emmettsburg road. De Irobrland
was on the woody knoll. Wards Brigade
was getting into position at the DEVILS Den.
But the valley where the Wheat Field lay was
an unoccupied gap. A brigade could hardly
have filled it. De Trobriand was ordered to
extend his line to the left to fill 1t, and he
sent the Seventeenth Maine and a small
Pennsylvania regiment In front OF the
Wheat Field was stone wall extending
across the valley obliquely, so obliquely that
had it been extended to the right 1t would
have touched the Emmettsburg road consid-
erably in advance of any part of the Union
line. These two regiments being extended
from De Trobriand's left, the Seventeenth
found itself partly covered by the stone
wall. Its right, however. extended too far
along to avail itself of the wall, neither
could the Pennsylvania regiment, which was
still nearer De Trobriand, participate in the
advantage. Immediately, when the Seven
teenth had taken position, Longstreets men
were upon them. To the rear Of the regiment
extended the Wheat Field, sloping back
ward and upward to a slight ridge, on which
was planted Winslow's Union battery In
front of the Seventeenth the valley extend
ed out towards the Emmettsburg road, but
the Wheat Field gave place at the stone
wall to growth Of trees and bushes Long
streets men came on through these woods
firing and yelling, their advance being part
of general movement against the whole
left wing Of the Northern army. Their
charge struck the Seventeenth's line diago-
naly from right to left. Receiving thus
flank fire the left of the enemy's line was
thrown into disorder but they pressed on
with their right. The Southern soldiers
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-10

The Seventeenth on the Third day were
back Of the battle line supporting batteries,
exposed, however, to a cannonading.
The regiment lost in this battle one hun
bred and thirty. Only two of these were re-
ported missing: the others were killed or
wounded. Lieutenant Hiram r. Dyer, Of
Franklincounty and seventeen enlisted.men
were killed. Seven officers were wounded !:
Captain Almon II. Fogg of Saccarappa,
who afterwards died, Captain Milton M.
Young, Of Lewiston, who lost an arm and
died within two months; Adjutant Charles
w. Roberts, who lost his right leg, Lieuten-
ant Newton Written, Lieutenant w. III.
Green, Of Portland, Lieutenant George w.
Verrill of Portland, who still carries mimic
in his thigh as souvenir. and Lieutenant
Stephen GRAHAM. One hundred and five en-
listed men were wounded.
The Seventeenth remained at Gettysburg
assisting in burying the dead. until the
18th of July. Scores upon scores of the rebel
dead lay in front Of the position held by the
Seventeenth, at the Wheat Field, attesting its
stubborn resistance and its murderous fire,
as well as the greatly superior numbers
against which it had thus successfully con-
tended almost single handed. They then fol
lowed Lee back to Virginia, where they
served until the surrender.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-10
LITTLE ROUND TOP.
CHARGE OF THE TWENTIETH MAINE ON
TERRIFIED REBELS.

The Twentiety Maine Infantry. under
command of Colonel Chamberlain. and be-
longing to the Fifth Army Corps, marched
up the Baltimore Pike to the battlefield Of
Gettysburg on the morning OF the second
day. They first marched to the right Of the
Union line, but at noon were sent across
Rock Creek to the left centre. When Sickles
called for help they were sent forward to
aid him, but. on getting as far as the
Wheat field, were ordered to move at once
to position on Little Round Top. 1t was
now about o'clock in the afternoon Of the
second day.
The Confederate force designated to take
possession of little Round Top appears to
have been Robertson's Brigade, consisting
Of the LIST, 4th, and 9TH Texas and the 3rd
Arkansas and Laws Brigade consisting Of
the 4th, 44th. 4sth, 47th, and 18th Alabama
both of Hoods Division. The former was to
assault in front, while Laws Brigade was to
attack in the rear of the hill but Robertson
finding he could not cover the entire front
with his brigade, the 44th. 4sth. and 4th. AL
ALBANIA were detached from Laws Brig
ade about the time they arrived at
the foot of Round Top in their advance and
connected with Robertson's line. then well
in front of Little Round Top, leaving the
47th and 18th, Ala, to carry out the flanking
movement alone, which they did. passing up
the southern side of Round Top, halting
some ten minutes on the crest for rest. This
halt proved fatal to the success Of their I'M
dertaking, as 1t enabled our brigade to reach
Little Round Top in time to resist their adj
vance.
Resuming their march, these two regiments
passed down the northeasterly side Of
Round Top, and advanced across the wooded
depression between the hills. to charge up
the rear Of Little Round Top and sweep off
Vincent's Brigade, then fercely engaged with
Robertson's Texans and the three regiments
of Laws Brigade that had been assigned to
his command who were trying to get possess
sion from the front. But just here these two
Alabama regiments met the Goth Maine
which was the left regiment of Vincent's
Brigade. and also the left Of the whole Army
of the Potomac, and to conform to the crest
of the hill were bent back at about right an
giles with the line Of the rest of the brigade,
fortunately, for in their advance the 47th
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-10

had given out, and 1t became necessary ~
| fall back formore. They moved back through
the Wheat Field, members of the regiment
Jaw as steadily as If on parade, up to the LITTLE
crest In the Wheat Field where 1t halted and
faced about, remaining there until severe
enflading fire came from the enemy adyanc-
| inc where it had broken the Union lines
there being no support on either flank n
moved down to wood road behind. dis
| lance of about 100 yards from its first nosi-
tlon at the stone wall. Here they succeeded.
after some trouble, in getting supply Of
ammunition. The rebels meanwhile col
lected for their third distinct onset
1t was now about five o'clock in the after
noon. The situation of the Union lines was
desperate. The rebels had gained Judgment
In the points of vantage on which the re-
demption of Sickles's line depended, and
were coming on in charge that threatened
to sweep everything before them. Wins
lows battery had withdrawn as the enemy
advanced through the Devils Den, on his
second attempt. Birney, the Division COM
mander, looked around for troops to stay the
rebel onset; he saw the Seventeenth Maine
in line and ready. 1t appeared to be the
only compact organization then remaining
of his whole division that had received the
enemy on that angle of the line. With his
staff he rode to the head of the regiment
and led 1t forward. With loud cheers, with
flags flying and swords and muskets glitter
ing in the rays of the setting sun the Seven
teenth charged up on to the. ridge in the
Wheat Field. The suddenness and spirit Of
the charge disconnected and stayed the
Rebels. On the crest Of that ridge in the
Wheat Field the Seventeenth remained, with
the Rebel lines even with them to the right
and left, their own position being so far ad-
vanced as to more properly belong to the
rebel line.
This charge of the Seventeenth gave time
to bring up other troops, and soon soldiers
of the Fifth corps were moved up and
charged to the right and left Of the Seven
teenth in an effort to recapture DEVILS Den
and the wooded knoll where De Trobriand
had been. As the Fifth corps moved back
from this charge, the Seventeenth went back
with them.
Afterwards, on the edge of the evening, a
portion of the Second corps charged again,
but it was useless. The line which Sickles
had formed was swept away and could not
be regained.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-10

came clear up to the stone wall; Adju-
tant Roberts says that they once planted a
color on it. and Captain Verrill recalls the
vigorous language of Captain Joe Perry, of
Company +, as, revolver in hand, he pulled
a charging rebel in over the wall as a pris-
oner. The fighting was actually hand to
hand but the Seventeenth never stirred from
its position; the first onset Of the rebels was
repulsed, and the gray groups of the enemy
disappeared, some back whence they came
and others behind trees and rocks whence
they kept up desultory fire.
But the whole line had not stood the charge
so well as the Seventeenth. The little Penn
sylvania regiment to the right of the Seven
teenth and nearer the knoll was swept away.
Out there was danger that the enemy would
eIowd In behind the Seyenteenth's right,
threatening them and the battery in their
rear 10 meet this danger the right of the
,esi.nent was swung back at right angle
70 the stone wall, and in this po-
si1ion met another distinct onset of Long
streets troops By this time Sickles's an
gle at the Peach Orchard was going to
pieces. AT the Peach Orchard and the Dew
IFS Den the Rebels had broken in and nv
the disintegration of the Union lines TO the
right and left theSeyenteenth was left exnosed
to murderous cross fire. To add 70 the
perplexity Of their position their ammunition
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-10
STORIES OF THE BATTLE.
History Written by Some Of the Men
who Made IL.

The following accounts of the parts taken
by the different Maine regiments have been
obtained from various sources. The very
complete account of the maneuvres and
brave action of the Seventeenth regiment,
the regiment which was distinguished as a
Portland organization, has been written
from the data furnished by the carefully
kept diary Of an officer of the regiment and
from the recollections of veterans. The
graphic accounts of the Twentieths fight is
from the pen of Major Ii. S. Melcher. The
spirited story Of the Nineteenth's part was
written by Major J. w. Spaulding The UNI
pretentious story of the Sixteenth's gallant
and memorable part in the battle is told bv
General Tilden, who commanded the reri-
ment. Colonel Walker tells of the terrible
ordeal of the Fourth in the DEVILS Den. and
Major G. I. Stevens gives the story Of the
Fifth Battery up to the time that he was
wounded. Major s. W. Thaxter gives the
story of the march of the First Maine Cayal-
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-10
PIcKETTs CHARGE.
HOW THE NINETEENTH HELPED ROLL BACH
THE cnNFEnFRA CH,s HInursr rInr

HOW THE NINETEENTH HELPED ROLL BACK
THE coNFEDERAcY's HIGHEST TIDE.
Wednesday, July LIST, we bivouacked for
the night three miles from the famous battle
field of Gettysburg. Everything betokened
not only that a severe fight had occurred that
day by the advance corps, but that we must
go into 1t ourselves on the morrow. The
next forenoon we advanced to the front, and
lay for while in support Of General How
ard, who was holding position on Cemetery
Hill, at the vertex Of the angle. And here
we ate our dinner. Our brigade lay en- masse
with, think, the Fifteenth Massachusetts,,
Immediately in front Of us. At O'Clock we
moved to the left and formed line on the
ridge in rear of the Peach Orchard, in sup
port Of the Third Corps. The ball soon
opened, and between four and five o'clock
General Siekles's Third Corps of valiant men
became holly engaged-their exposed TANKS
were gained by the enemy, and they were
compelled retreat; the rebels, triumphan
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-10

night and evening the Third, Second and Twelfth
corps arrived, the first over the Emmettsburg
road and the other two over the Taneytown road
De Trobriand's brigade Of the Third Corps stayed
back to guard pass, and did not get on to the
field until the morning of the second.
These were the troops on the field In the evening
OF the first day. Meade had probably intended
that the Union lines OF the Second Day should run
from j, on the extreme right, along continuously
to K, on little Round Top, or possibly to on
Round Top, making line about three miles long
But General Sckles, preferring the high ground of
the Peach Orchard, formed the lines running from
around the Peach Orchard to II, instead of
forming on the line to the rear. In the battle OF
the Second Day Longstreet drove this line Of
Sickles back afte.: terrible fighting, and Ewell,
far to the right, charged up and gained position
on Culp's Hill, where the Union line had. been
weakened to help Sickles. During the Second
day the Fifth and Sixth Corps arrived over the
Baltimore Pike. On the morning Of the Third
Day, the Union line was entire from l. at Round
Top, around to j, on the extreme right, excepting
the break on Culp'sIH HILL where Ewell had made a
Judgement. Ewell, however, was driven out
early in themorning, and the entirety Of the Union
line restored. The great event of the Third Days
fight was the attack on the Union centre at about
the point where the Nineteenth Maine Infantry is
placed. This attack eliminated in the disastrous
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-10

The positions of Maine troops at Gettysburg and
the relations of the various Maine regiments to
the general movements of the battle have not
been indicated on the maps of the battlefield that
have been published for the Illustration of pop
ular accounts of the conflict 1t was part of the
work of the Governor and the Gettysburg Com
mission, while in the field last week, to locate the
positions.occupied by the Maine Regiments In
the map which the PRESS publishes this morning
especial attention is given to the positions OF the
Maine Regiments The battlefield covers large
extent of territory and the positions where the
Maine Regiments fought are scattered over the
whole field. In the map the continuous dark lines
represent the Union forces, the broken dark
lines the Confederate forces. To gain clear idea
of the battle and the parts taken by the Maine
Regiments, it will be necessary to keep distinctly
in mind the general movements of each of the three
days. On theFirst Day the First Corps, under
General Reynolds supported later by the Eleventh
Corps, sustained the fight, the rest of Meade's ar
my not having arrived. The Union lines on that
day were from A to and from to ID. 1t will be
noticed that the Sixteenth Maine Infantry and
Halls Second Maine Battery were in the fight.
The Confederates under Hill and Ewen outnum.
bered our soldiers, broke their lines and drove
them back through Gettysburg. That night our
shattered First and Eleventh Corps were formed
on the heights mile South of the town. That